Lisa Cholodenko Won't Direct 'Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,' But Steve Carell Still On Board

By
Kevin Jagernauth
|
The PlaylistFebruary 22, 2013 at 1:22PM

With credits that include "The Kids Are All Right," "Laurel Canyon," "High Art" and "The L Word," Lisa Cholodenko didn't always seem like the obvious choice to co-write (with Ron Lieber) and direct "Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." But she's been developing the vehicle for a while, first at Fox and then at Disney who picked the project up when it went into turnaround. But as the movie continues to move forward, Cholodenko has decided she won't get behind the camera after all.

With credits that include "The Kids Are All Right," "Laurel Canyon," "High Art" and "The L Word," Lisa Cholodenko didn't always seem like the obvious choice to co-write (with Ron Lieber) and direct "Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." But she's been developing the vehicle for a while, first at Fox and then at Disney who picked the project up when it went into turnaround. But as the movie continues to move forward, Cholodenko has decided she won't get behind the camera after all.

Deadline reports that Cholodenko has exited the movie, leaving a job vacancy to be filled as Disney still aims to shoot it this fall, with star Steve Carell still attached. Produced by Shawn Levy's company 21 Laps, the project takes its source material from Judith Viorst's book, about an unlucky family (with Carell as the father) living through a horrendous day, while the youngest son Alexander ponders a permanent move to Australia. Franchise potential is here as the books have two sequels already on shelves, "Alexander, Who's Not (Do Your Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going To Move" and "Alexander Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday."

No word on who the mouse house might be looking at, but don't cry for Chodolenko. She's got another project on her slate, the D.C.-set mystery "November Criminals," so here's hoping that movie starts picking up speed.